Tag: strike

  • Dublin, Interrupted

    Dublin, Interrupted

    The largest strike  in Ireland in almost 20 years took place on October 14th. More than 300,000 public sector workers took action over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal. The 24-hour work stoppage caused widespread disruption, leading to the Government engaging in concurrent talks with the Unions at the Workplace Relations Commission.

    The following photo essay aims to document the industrial action that took place and highlight the importance of these public sector workers.

     

    The staff at Ballsbridge College of Further Education, members of the Teacher’s Union of Ireland. Over 98% of members voted to take action.

    The staff at Mater Hospital, members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. They are striking due to the cost-of-living crisis.

    Leftover picketing signs, as workers wrap up protesting for the day.

    Staff at An Garda Síochána Headquarters, members of Fórsa. They voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action to demand better pay and conditions.                   Joining the march outside the Mater.

    Staff at Dublin City Council, members of Fórsa.

    Staff at Dublin City Council, members of Fórsa.

    A lone house in Phibsboro flying “The Starry Plough” (An Camchéachta). Originally used by the Irish Citizen Army, a socialist Irish republican movement. James Larkin said the significance of the banner was that a free Ireland would control its own destiny from the plough to the stars. The Cuban flag is also seen.

    Staff outside TU Dublin’s Grangegorman campus, members of the Teacher’s Union of Ireland.

    Staff outside Trinity College Dublin, members of IFUT. IFUT says public sector workers need a credible approach to pay that protects living standards.

  • More public transport journeys despite 2016 strikes

    More public transport journeys despite 2016 strikes

    Most Dubliners chose to travel on Dublin Bus in 2016 according to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

    Over 125 million bus journeys were taken over the course of the twelve months. The number of bus journeys taken in 2016 jumped 2.7 percent from 2015.

    DB
    Source: CSO

    November was the most popular month for Dublin Bus, with 11,318,902 journeys taken. A sharp decrease in Dublin Bus journeys was seen in September 2016. That coincided with the bus strikes which plagued the capital across five days in September.

    DB monthly
    Source: CSO

    Rail journeys in 2016 increased to just shy of 43 million, up from just over 39.5 million the previous year. This gave a total increase of 7.96 percent.

    RAIL
    Source: CSO

    While the total number of journeys taken across all Irish Rail services (including DART and commuter services) took a hit in 2013, the total number of journeys have increased by an average of 5.2 percent per year since.

    DART
    Source: CSO

    Overall, 44.3 percent of all rail journeys taken in 2016 were on the DART. DART journeys increased to nearly 19 million in 2016, an increase of 10.7 percent from 2015. DART journeys also increased dramatically in 2015, up 7.5 percent from the previous year.

    The only form of public transport in Dublin that did not see an increase in 2016 was the Luas. There was a decrease of over 500,000 journeys.

    LUAS
    Source: CSO

    This decrease of 1.65 percent was uncharacteristic for the Luas as journeys had increased year on year from 2012 to 2015.

    The Red Line proved to be more popular with commuters, with 22.4 percent more journeys taken on the Red Line than the Green Line in 2016.

    Luas lines
    Source: CSO

    Like Dublin Bus, the Luas was also hit by twelve days of industrial action in 2016. This can be seen in the sharp decrease in the amount of journeys taken on the Red Line between April and June. The strike did not, however, seem to have as dramatic an effect on the Green Line, with journeys increasing between May and June despite several strike days.

    These figures, announced last week as part of the CSO’s annual travel omnibus, are released as further transport strikes threaten to leave commuters stranded. Iarnród Éireann strikes are set to affect more than 150,000 daily commuters amid rows over pay. Rail workers are looking for 11 percent pay increases over the next three years.

    The first strike took place on Wednesday 1st November, with further strikes planned for the 7th, 14th and 23rd of November, as well as the 8th of December.

    Reports in Irish newspapers recently suggested that workers may also strike on Christmas Eve.

    By Louise Burne

  • Thousands take to the streets of Dublin to Strike 4 Repeal

    Thousands take to the streets of Dublin to Strike 4 Repeal

    As Dublin city was brought to a standstill, Sarah Harford caught up with the strike action as protesters marched through the capital.

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  • Bussing it to bankruptcy: is insolvency Bus Eireann’s final destination?

    Bussing it to bankruptcy: is insolvency Bus Eireann’s final destination?

    With Bus Eireann in financial meltdown, Cormac Murphy investigates the wider impact it could have on its competition and customers. 

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  • Will the women of Ireland Strike 4 Repeal?

    Will the women of Ireland Strike 4 Repeal?

     A campaign has been launched urging the public to strike if the Government does not hold a referendum on abortion. Sarah Harford looks at the plans and the historical precedent.

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